~ FIFTEEN ~

The morning was calm and inviting, the cool air drifting into Obinna's apartment through slightly cracked windows. The skies outside were a soft gray, the sun still hidden behind thick clouds, casting a faint, muted glow over everything. The smell of rain lingered, a telltale sign that the weather had turned chilly overnight. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, their song competing with the mellow beats of soft jazz music streaming from the speakers strategically placed around the apartment.

Kaima stirred awake in the spacious bed, a cocoon of warmth enveloping her from the oversized hoodie and shorts Obinna had insisted she change into the night before. The scent of his cologne still clung faintly to the fabric, and for a moment, she just lay there, letting herself fully wake up.

The room was a masterpiece of tranquility, with its neutral tones and minimalist decor blending effortlessly into the serene atmosphere. A faint smile graced her lips as she sat up, tucking her legs beneath her and gazing out the wide glass window on the far side of the room. The world outside was still quiet, save for the occasional sound of someone walking by on the street below.

She stretched lazily, running a hand through her slightly disheveled hair before sliding out of bed. Her bare feet met the soft rug as she wandered towards the living room, where the music played louder. The decor from last night remained, reminding her of how special and thoughtful the evening had been. She took it all in—the twinkling fairy lights that still draped across the bookshelf, the now-empty snack tray on the center table, and the stack of books from their mini bookstore raid.

Kaima was still lost in thought when a sharp knock came from the front door, startling her slightly. She glanced towards the bedroom, but there was no sign of Obinna. Another knock followed, and she quickly moved to answer it, tugging at the hoodie to make herself look more presentable.

Opening the door, she was greeted by a familiar face—Owen. He stood there with his usual confident demeanor, wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans. A small grin tugged at his lips when he saw her.

"Well, well, good morning, Kaima," Owen greeted, his tone light. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Kaima blinked in surprise but quickly returned the smile. "Oh, um, good morning. Obinna isn't here at the moment."

Owen waved a hand dismissively. "No worries, I'm not here to barge in or anything. Just wanted to drop this off." He held up a sleek red invitation card and handed it to her.

Curious, Kaima took it, glancing at the elegant gold lettering on the front. "What's this?"

"It's for the lodge Valentine's party," Owen explained. "We're throwing it tonight in the compound. It's sort of a tradition around here. Since Obinna's my neighbor and all, I figured I'd extend the invite to him. And of course, you're welcome to come too."

Kaima raised a brow. "Wait, you live here? In this building?"

"Yep," Owen replied, gesturing vaguely behind him. "Just a floor below. Small world, huh?"

She chuckled softly. "I guess so."

"Anyway," Owen continued, "it'll be a fun time—food, music, drinks, and a lot of mingling. Tell Obinna not to miss it. And you too."

"I'll let him know," Kaima said, smiling politely.

"Great." Owen gave her a quick nod and stepped back. "Well, enjoy the rest of your morning, Kaima. And maybe I'll see you tonight."

"Maybe," she replied with a small laugh.

As Owen disappeared down the hallway, Kaima closed the door and turned the card over in her hands. The words on the front read: You're Invited! Valentine's Day Celebration – 7 PM.

She exhaled, shaking her head in mild amusement as she set the card on the dining table, moving back to the bedroom to get her phone, while thinking of things to be done.

----

Kaima had just finished placing the last item on the dining table when she heard the familiar sound of the front lock turning. Before she could even turn to see who it was, Aaron's loud, booming laughter filled the air. She paused, standing by the dining table, her hand resting on the edge as the voices grew closer.

The door swung open, and Aaron appeared first, his vibrant energy filling the room. His steps faltered slightly when he spotted her, a look of mild surprise crossing his face before it turned into a teasing grin. Behind him, Obinna walked in, his gaze immediately seeking her out.

The grin on Obinna's face was unmistakable as he crossed the room quickly, his tall frame moving with purpose. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a warm hug, the familiar scent of his cologne comforting her. "Good morning," he said, his voice smooth and warm. "How was your sleep?"

Kaima smiled, leaning back to look up at him. "It was good. Thanks for letting me have the bed to myself."

He chuckled, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. "I wanted you to have a proper rest after yesterday. Plus, I didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep by waking you up for a run."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "So thoughtful of you," she teased.

Aaron cleared his throat loudly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Am I interrupting something here?"

Kaima turned to him with a smile. "Good morning, Aaron."

"Morning, Kaima," he replied, walking fully into the room and throwing himself onto the couch as though he owned the place. "I didn't know you'd still be here. I thought Obinna was lying when he said he had company."

"Why would I lie?" Obinna shot back, moving to the dining table and glancing at the breakfast spread she'd prepared. "Wow, this looks amazing. You really didn't have to go all out, Kaima."

Kaima shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "It's just breakfast. And I like cooking."

Before Obinna could respond, another voice called out from the doorway, and Amanda walked in, holding a shopping bag and looking around curiously. "Aaron, you left me downstairs to carry this alone—oh!" She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Kaima.

"Hi, Amanda," Kaima greeted politely.

Amanda blinked before recovering quickly. "Hi. I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Obinna stepped in smoothly. "I ran into these two downstairs during my run. They insisted on coming up."

"I insisted," Aaron corrected, raising a hand. "Mandy wasn't keen on climbing stairs this early."

Amanda shot him a glare but didn't deny it. Instead, she walked over to the couch and set her bag down, finally taking a proper look at the room. "This place is nice, Obinna. You keep it... surprisingly neat."

Kaima laughed softly as Obinna shook his head. "Of course, I do. What did you expect?"

"Chaos," Aaron chimed in with a smirk.

"Anyway," Kaima interrupted, "Obinna, I have something to tell you."

He turned to her, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

Kaima walked over to the table, picked up the invitation card Owen had dropped off earlier, and handed it to him. "Your neighbor Owen gave this to me this morning. It's for a Valentine's party at the lodge tonight. He said it's a tradition, and you're invited too."

Obinna took the card and read it briefly before grinning. "Of course, Owen would throw something like this. Did he invite you too?"

Kaima nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure if I'll go."

"Why not?" Aaron cut in, sitting up on the couch. "These lodge parties are usually fun, and you never know who you might meet."

"I'm not exactly big on parties," Kaima replied, shrugging.

"Don't worry," Obinna said, sliding the card onto the table. "We'll go together. I'll make sure you have a good time."

Kaima smiled but didn't say anything, her thoughts interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She glanced at the screen and saw Chelsea's name flashing.

"Excuse me," she said, picking up the phone and walking towards the balcony.

"Finally!" Chelsea exclaimed the moment Kaima answered. "I've been trying to call you all morning. You won't believe what Chuma did last night!"

Kaima chuckled. "What did he do?"

"He showed up at my place with flowers, chocolate, and this massive stuffed teddy bear," Chelsea gushed. "It was so cute! I didn't even know he had it in him to be this romantic."

"Wow," Kaima said, smiling. "That's sweet."

"Anyway, enough about me. Where are you? Are you coming over?"

Kaima glanced back into the apartment. "Actually, I'm still at Obinna's place."

"Obinna?" Chelsea's voice rose with excitement. "Okay, spill. What's going on between you two?"

"Nothing," Kaima said quickly. "He just invited me over yesterday, and we hung out. That's all."

Chelsea wasn't convinced. "Hmm. Well, in that case, tell him he's hosting the group today. No questions asked." Stated authoritatively, switching into her non assigned mummy role.

Kaima laughed. "I'll let him know."

She ended the call and walked back inside, finding the three of them still chatting.

"That was Chelsea," she said to Obinna. "She wants to come over, and she's bringing Chuma."

"Perfect," Aaron said, clapping his hands together. "The more, the merrier."

Obinna smirked. "Fine by me. Text her my address."

Kaima nodded and sent the message, all while wondering how the day was going to unfold.